Time controlled switch



Feb. 13, 1940.

W. MORRON E TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Fiid April 25, 1939 2 Sheets-:Sheei 1 REARGLocK Z zJam Morrgraa ATTORNEYS '2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Fab. 13, 1940. w. MORRONE TIME CONTROLLED swn'cn Filed April 25, 1939 2e 17 3/ 1. (7 3 FR ONT CLocK RERRCLOGK OFF v ON REAR CLOC mmji mmormnemm ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES TIME CONTROLLED swrron William Morrone, Oakdale, Pa., assignor of forty per centto Salvatore F. Gallo, and fiveper cent to Joseph Miller, both of Oakdale, Pa.

Application April 25, 1939, Serial No. 269,991

2 Claims.

This invention relates to time controlled.

switches and has for an object to provide a device of this character which may be essentially constructed of an inexpensive alarm clock pro- 5 vided with a switch arm connected to the alarm winding key and a stationary contact having a hinged portion adapted to be manually set to coact with the arm in controlling current supply to flood lamps, show window lamps, and other lamps desired to be energized through a predetermined time period.

A further object is to provide a housing carry- I ing conductors, electric connections, a front alarm clock and a rear alarm clock in accordance with the invention, the housing being adapted to permit the clocks being easily removed and replaced selectively for setting the time responsive switches thereof.

A further object is to provide a time controlled switch of this type which will be formed of. a few strong, simple, and durable parts which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it-being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the front clock 7 shown in Figure 4 with the arm in on position.

Figure '7 is a rear elevation of the rear clock shown in Figiu'e 5 with the arm in off position.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view showing the hinged stationary contact of both clocks.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the stationary contact having a locking hook. Figure 10 is a side elevation of the switch arm carried by the winding key of both clocks.

' Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of the various parts of the time controlled switch and pilot lights.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in thevarious views, Hl designates a substantially cylindrical housing provided with an integral frame base II. A cylinder II of insulating material lines the housing and is provided with a centrally disposed diaphragm I3 also formed of insulating material. A pair of metal discs I 5 and I6, forming electrical conductors, are disposed on the front and rear faces respectively of the diaphragm and a pair'of metal rings I! and ID are disposed on the inner wall of the insulat ing cylinder, respectively in front of and in rear of the diaphragm, and these rings also form conductors.

A pair of inexpensive alarm clocks l9 and 2| are disposed in respective open ends of the housing l0 and will hereinafter be referred to as a front alarm clock and a rear alarm clock. Each alarm clock is equipped at the topwith a leaf spring 2| adapted to wedge the alarm clock against the respective conductor ring to make good electrical contact between the metal of the clock and the ring. The leaf spring terminates in a rounded tip 22 which may be forced toward the clock by one of the operators fingers while two other fingers are engaged in notches 23 in the endsof the housing and pressed against the sides of the clock to easily insert and remove the clock for setting the time responsive switch mechanism thereof. a

On each side of the top of the frame base II a lamp socket 24 and pilot lamp 25 are mounted. The operating lever 26 of a conventional electric switch 21, projects through the front face of the frame base. 'The socket member 21 of a conventional plug connection is exposed on the rear face of the frame base. Also a current supply cord 28 extends from the rear of the face of the frame base. The pilot lamps 25 and outlet socket 21 are electrically connected to the source of cord supply and pilot lamps so that it may be manually closed whenever desired to supply current from the outlet socket 21 to floor lamps,

show window lamps, or other devices, and simultaneously energize the pilot lamps. When the switch is open current supply will be automatically controlled to the lamps of other devices through a predetermined time period by switch mechanism on the alarm clocks as will now be described.

The alarm winding key 29 of each clock is equipped with a metal switch arm 30, best shown in Figure 10. The arm is provided with a perforated bent extremity through which a bolt 32 or other connector is passed to secure the arm to the key. The free end of the arm is directed outwardly to extend perpendicular to the arm as shown in 33 and form a contact point.

Each clock is also equipped with a substantially right angular metal plate 34, forming a conductor and best shown in Figure 8, which is insulated from A wire leaf Spring St is connected at one end to the plate 34 and the free end of the spring is adapted to bear upon the respective conductor disc IE or IE of the housing Iii.

The metal plate 34 of each clock is equipped with a pair of hinge ears 3'! between which is received a switch contact 38. A pivot pin 39 is passed through the-ears and through one end -.of

the; switch contact Sate pivotally mount the contact to be swung'through an arc of l80 to operative; position as shown in full lines in Figure;8 orzto, released position as shown in dotted lines in thisfigure.

;'I'he switch -contact,3;8 erally directed extension 40 having arounded tip 4! adaptedtobedisposed in the path of the; arm

30, asindicated in Figure 6, to; form a circuit,

closer, One of the'hinge ears 3'! is provided with an extension 42; upon which is secured a block 43 of insulation against which the contact point 33 of thearm 30 isadapted to lodge when the switch contact 38 is swung to released position and form a circuit opener.

' E'ach clock is equipped with an additional,

stationary contact. As shown in Figures i and 6,- the front clock' is equipped with a stationary e contact of substantially right angular; shapeinrcluding-aleg 44 which extendspcrpendicular to the conductor plate 34 and. aleg fi which extends parallelwith the conductor plate. T-he rear clock 20 is provided withan angulansta- ,tionary contact of substantially. Z-shaped con tour, best shown in Figure 9, to comprise a leg 46 which extends perpendicular to, the conduc-.. tor plate-34, a-leg which extends parallel with the conductor plate, and a hook-i of the leg 41. A

. Byreferringi-to- Figure 11 it-will-be seen that the conductor ring ,I l of theiront clock is con.

on the end nected by a wire 49 totheconductor disc it of the rear clock. The conductor disc-150i the front clock is connected by a wire to the ourrent supply. A wire 5| connects the conductor ring of the rear. clock with the current supplyn The connections are such that when thelswitch 21 is oper current will be supplied to the switches carried by the clocks for automatically controls ling, lamps or other electrical devices which are to ,be turncdon and ofi at predetermined times.

To setthe time-responsive switches therear clock, shown inFigures 1 and 5, may be removed .anddts circuit closing arm 35 moved into contact'avith'the stationary contact ,ttthereof. This closes-the-time.responsive circuit at this point. 'I'he ghinged, contact 38 is now swung oujtof the path ofgthe arm:v Then the clock is replaced;

',The.front"clock;yshown in Figures 2 and i, is now removed audits circuit cl sin a m 601 posedbetween' both contacts :38 and t5. l

When the time arrives, tor ,the lights .to be turned on, the alarm winding key-29 of the front clock will be moved to swing the arm; 33 into the metal back of the clock through the medium of a similarly shaped blank r 35 of insulating material best shown in Figure 3.

is provided with a lat-J engagement with the stationary contact 38 as shown in Figure 6. The time responsive circuit is now energized and may be traced, as shown in Figure 11, from the current supply to the wire 50, contact disc 15 of the front clock, leaf spring 36 of the front clock, conductor ring I! in the front of housing ll], wire 49, conductor disc It of the rear clock, leaf spring 36 of the rear clock, conductor ring 18 in the rear of the housing 10, and wire 5! to the current supply, to energize the pilot lamps 25 and lamps to be controlled,

'wh'ich are plugged in at the outlet socket 21.

When the time arrives for the lamps to be extinguished, the alarm winding key 29 of the rear clock will be moved and move the circuit closing arm 30 off of the lip of the hook 48v of the stationary contact, upon which it has been resting, into contact with the insulating block 43 as shown in Figure '7. This opens the time responsive circuit, above traced, at this point,

and the lights are extinguished.

,Although the use of two control clocks has, been described, one to turn on the power and onetoturn off the power, it will be pointed out that bothclocks can be set to turn off the, power so that in case one clock fails to perform its duty the other will do its work, thus assuring dependabilityof operation; I 1

'From' the above description it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe invention i will be fully understood without further explaon the rear wall of the clock, a metal leaf spring electrically connecting the contact to the dia-' phragm' contact; said alarm clock having an alarm winding key,'and a switch arm fixed at oneend to the key and having the free end adapted to'engage the fixed contact in circuit closing position. 9

- 2.'Time"controlled switch apparatus comprising an alarm clock, a housing encircling the alarm clock, a metal'conductor in the form of .an annulus engaging the peripheral metal wall of the clock and insulated from the-housing, a metal conductor forminga diaphragm across the housingin rear of the clock and insulated from the housing, an insulated stationary switch contact on the rear wall of the clock having a hinged portion, a stationary insulating contact on saidstationary switch contact and. exposed when the hinged portion of the stationary switch contact is rocked to released position beyond the insulated contact, a metal 'leafspring electrically connecting the stationary switch contact to'the dia' phragm contact, said alarm clock having an alarm winding key, and a switch arm fixed at' one end to the key and having the free end adapted to engage the hingedportion of the fixed switch contact when thehi'nged portion is in one position of the pivotal movement adapted toengage the insulating contact when the hinged portion is rocked to its other position of pivotal movement for effecting respectively closed circuit and open cireuitposition of the arm. P

1 WILLIAM MonnoNE. 

